Saudi newspaper al-Watan quoted Bogdanov as saying that Bashar Assad is ready to step down and that his brother Maher lost both his legs in the Damascus bombing
last month which killed three top Syrian officials.

As commander of the Syrian army's fourth division, Maher Assad oversaw the brutal campaign against the rebels. The Russian official said he is still fighting for his life.

"You know we don't wish to be in a non-neutral position or stand against one of the sides in the conflict," Bogdanov is quoted as saying. "We are pushing for an immediate cessation of violence by both sides."

The Russian official said that the attack in Damascus shook the Syrian leadership and exacerbated the state of security in the country.

The Russian Foreign Ministry said Bogdanov had not given an interview to the paper by phone or in person.

The newspaper did not say when the interview took place and the only direct quotes it attributed to Bogdanov were on the subject of Russia's position on the crisis.

The Russian Foreign Ministry declined immediate comment to Reuters, asking for a written request.

Meanwhile, the Free Syrian Army said he has detained a member of Hezbollah
who entered Syrian together with a group of 1,500 activists. Al-Arabiya published a video showing Hassan Salim al-Mkdad denying her infiltrated Syria illegally. Hezbollah denied the report.